2008 will be remembered as the year that a powerful wind changed the landscape and people stopped buying so much crap.

2008 will be remembered as the year that a powerful wind changed the landscape and people stopped buying so much crap.

And that was just the presidential election.

We also had Hurricane Ike and an economic crisis that seemed to signal the end of a long period of exuberant shopping.

Here are my annual lists of Things I Loved and Things I Hated about the year almost behind us:

Things I Loved

• Barack Obama's election

The Messiah? Of course not. He's just a talented politician who seems open-minded and reality-based. That alone is an improvement.

• Grant Park, Nov. 4

Political victories rarely result in lump-in-the-throat moments, but the sight of an African-American family on that stage in Chicago was a moving tribute to the decades of blood, sweat and tears that made it possible.

• Marc Dann's departure

A state beset by huge problems can't afford rapacious weasels in office. Too bad he's not the last one.

• Votes on Issues 5 and 6

Payday lenders and casino operators gambled a fortune on idiotic campaigns aimed at getting Ohioans to say yes to being ripped off. So long, suckers.

• Full buses

Gasoline goggles: COTA got more desirable with every nickel rise in fuel prices. But does it still look as beautiful at $1.50 a gallon?

• National championship

We're No. 1: The Columbus Metropolitan Library was declared best in the United States. Change the state rock song to Hang On Shakespeare.

• Lazarus renovation

The old Downtown store, now an office complex and arts venue, hasn't looked so good in decades. If we could still buy a toaster there, it would be perfect.

Things I Hated

• Hard times

So much for free markets. The feds throw money as the economy staggers, corporations fail and ideology goes out the window (along with some investment bankers).